The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on restructuring of the Selangor
water supply industry, signed between the federal and state governments,
is irrevocable even if opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
becomes Menteri Besar of Selangor.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this matter was
contained in the MoU and it was the federal and state governments'
obligation not to amend or alter the MoU in whatever situation.
Therefore, he said, the Langat 2 Water Treatment (Langat 2) project,
which had received the development order, would go on until completed.
"The people will feel relieved as the project will proceed without
interruption and we hope it will be completed as scheduled so that water
sourced from Pahang can flow to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya,"
he said after a walkabout at the Kwan Tung business centre in Sungai
Chua, here, Friday.
Muhyiddin was earlier asked by reporters whether Anwar could stop the
Langat 2 project "if he wins the upcoming Kajang state seat by-election
and becomes Selangor Menteri Besar".
Also present during the walkabout were Selangor Umno Liaison Committee
chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kajang by-election, Datin
Paduka Chew Mei Fun.
Last Tuesday, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Maximus Ongkili, representing the federal government, and Menteri Besar
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, on behalf of the Selangor government, signed
the MoU, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in
Putrajaya.
On Anwar's statement as reported by a news portal that he and PKR were
unaware of the MoU, Muhyiddin said it was highly unlikely as Anwar was
the state's economic adviser.
"Anwar does not want to show that he was not advising (the state
government)and only wants a name for himself, but has not paid attention
at all (to the water problem in Selangor).
"As state economic adviser, he should have made effort to solve the
water supply problem but in issues like this, it is clear that he has
made no contribution," he said.
Muhyiddin said the prolonged water issue also showed that the two top
PKR leaders, Khalid and Anwar, were not in the same direction.
The deputy prime minister also questioned how Anwar, as an outsider, would be able to serve the people in Selangor well.
"Why does someone from Penang come to Selangor to become menteri besar.
What's wrong with those from Selangor itself? If he (Anwar) wins and
becomes menteri besar, he will have lots of work to do and will hence be
very busy.
"Today, he may be in Japan and tomorrow, off to the United States. So,
how is he going to take care of the voters in Kajang?" he said.
Muhyiddin, however, expressed his relief that the Langat 2 project,
which was delayed since 2008, would at last proceed in the interest of
the people although both sides had different political ideologies.
He said the MoU signed must be respected while there must be commitment to the realisation and completion of the project.
"If there's any change made, then it's violation of the MoU," he added.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin who is also BN deputy chairman, said the
coalition's election machinery would focus attention on all 16 district
polling centres in Kajang.
"We are not taking this by-election lightly as we will be facing a
stiff fight. Although we are the underdogs, our fighting spirit is
strong," he said.
Earlier, Muhyiddin spent almost an hour at the Kwan Tung business
centre, meeting the people and representatives of Chinese
non-governmental organisations from the Kajang area.
-- BERNAMA
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